Valve-controlling mechanism for ordnance-flushing devices.



w. 1). SMITH. VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE FLUSHING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. B, 1910. RENEWED 001. 'l, 1912.

1,055,823. Patented Mar. 11, 1913. s HEETHHEE'I' 1.

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W. D. SMITH. VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANGE FLUSHING DEVICES.

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Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1910. RENEWED OUT. 7, 1912.

' W. D. SMITH.

VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR. ORDNANGE PLUSHING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1910. RENEWED OUT. 7, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA.

VALVE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOB ORDNANCE-FLUSHING DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 8, 1910, Serial No. 581,065. Renewed October 7, 1912. Serial No. 724,436.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. SMITH, a resident of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valve-Controlling Mechanism for Ordnance-Flushing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to ordnance of the breech loading type provided with a breech block mounted in a carrier, which is pivotally connected to the breech of the gun.

The object of my invention is to rovide means for admitting air or other uid to the breech of the gun immediately after the gun is fired, and during the first part of the recoil movement of the gun.

Another object of my invention is to pro-' vide a valve having operating mechanism which is-shifted to open said valve at the beginning of the recoil movement of the gun and to retain said mechanism in this position until after the gun returns to battery.

Another object of my invention is to. so place the valve that the flushing fluid supply pipe will not be disconnected when the breech plate is swung on its hinge during such translation. Further in providing means to positively cut off the connection from the pressure supply to the chamber in the breech of the gun when the breech block is translated, irrespective of the position of said valve.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the acing the gun in position to be fired. Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in the position they assume immediately after firing and at the beginning of the recoil movement of the gun. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form block is translated and the carrier of valve operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the valve on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4, and Fig. 7 is asectional view on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the breech of the gun, which is arranged to move through a recoil sleeve 3 of any well known ty e.

4 is a pipe leading rom a suitable source of pressure supply to a valve casin 5, having a stem 6 connected to the valve 9 and 10 are the inlet and outlet ports, respectively, in the valve casing 5. The port 9 connects with the pressure supply pipe 4, and the port 10 opens into the hollow stem 11, and 12 is a port in the valve 7 arranged to connect the ports 9 and 10 to permit the pressure to flow from the pipe 4 to the hollow stem 11.

13 is a breech block which is rotatably mounted on a carrier 14, which is pivotally connectedto thebreech of the gun by means of the pivot pin 15. The mechanism in the I breech of the gun shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is the same as the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, which will now be described. Within the carrier 14 is apressure chamber 16, and extending through the breech block 13 and the pressure chamber 16 is a stem 17 of the mushroom head 18. This stem is provided with a piston 17' arranged to be acted upon by the pressure in the chamber 16.

19 are ports leading from the pressure chamber 16 along the eriphery of the stem of the mushroom head to a point immediately back of a gas check 20, when the mushroom head is in its rearward or firin position. When the gun is fired, the mus 00m head is advanced to allow pressure to enter from the pressure chamber in the carrier to the bore of the gun between the gas check and the mushroom head "to flush and cool the gun. As can be seen by reference to the accompanying drawings, the hollow stem 11 is in line with the pivot pin 15 to which the carrier is pivoted. Mounted on the hollow stem 11 is a collar 21 having an opening 21 which is in communication with an opening 22 through the wall of the stem 11, when the parts are in the position shown in the drawings. This collar is held in position by means of a nut 21" and an interposed washer 21.

the pressure chamber 16 in the carrier, and when the valve is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings, direct communication will be made from the pressure pipe 4 to the breech of the gun through the various connections hereinbefore described. (onnccted to the upper portion of the breech of the gun is a bracket 2*, to which is pivotally connected a bell crank lever having arms 24 and 25.

2G is a link, one end of which is connected to the arm 25 of the bell crank by means of the rod 27 and the bufling springs 28. The other end of this link 26 is pivotally connected to one end of a valve lever 29 connected to the stem 6 of the valve 7.

30 is a bracket which is connected to the recoil cylinder 3, and is provided with a pin 31.

The operation of this device is as follows: Vvhen the gun is ready to be fired, the parts are all in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. and immediately after the gun is is fired, the arm 24 of the bell crank will be thrown downwardly by its engagement with the pin 31 caused by the :recoil of the gun, to the position shown in Fig. 3, which will draw the valve lever 29 forward and connect the ports 9 and 10 through the medium of the port 12 and admit pressure to the breech of the gun. The bell crank lever will be held in this position by means of a leaf spring 35 which engages the flat surface of the arm 24 of the bell crank lever. As soon as the gun returns to battery, the arm 25 of the bell crank will strike the pin 31 and force the arm 24 of the bell crank lever back into the position shown in Fig. 2, which will return the valve lever 29 to its initial position and close the valve.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a slightly modified arrangement in which I have shown mechanism to retain the valve in its open position until after the breech block has been slightly rotated to unlock it, and prior to the translation thereof. In this modification, I have also shown a connection to the bell crank lever which is arranged to advance the mushroom head to open the ports to flush the gun and in which the piston may be dispensed with. In these figures, I have used the same reference numerals for allsimilar parts with the letter a afiixed. J ournaled in suitable bearings on the breech of the gun is a shaft 36 and secured to this shaft is a spring pressed latch member 37. 38 is an arm connected to the end of the shaft 36 and extending down over the rear of the gun, in line with a ivoted lug 38 on the breech block. Mount on the stem 17 is a lever 40. A portion of this lever is divided and is arranged to straddle the stem 17 of the mushroom head. The outer end of this lever is arranged to enga e a projection 41 which is secured to t e breech block. In this case the link 26 is extended and is provided with a hook 42 which is arranged to engage the opposite end of the lever 40 and when the gun is fired, the mushroom head 18 will be advanced through the medium of the link 26. The latch 37 is arranged to latch and secure the arm 24* of the bell crank lever when it is moved downwardly at the beginning of the recoil movement of the gun, and it is retained in this position until it is released and holds the valve in its open position, and also retains the mushroom head in its advanced position until it is released. As soon as it is desired to open the breech of the gun after firing, the breech block is rotated to the left, and the pivoted lug 38 will strike the end of the lever 38 and rock the shaft 36 and with it the latch 37, which will release the bell crank and permit a spring, such as is shown at 43, to return the bell crank 24, link 26 and valve lever 29* to the position shown in Fig. 5 and close the valve. At the beginning of the rotation of the breech block. the lever 40 will also slide off from the hook 42 and permit the mushroom head to return to its normal or firing position. As soon as the breech block is unlocked, it is translated and the carrier 14 is swung on the pivot pin to remove the breech block from the breech of the gun, and during the rotation of the carrier on its pivot pin, the collar 21 will be rotated on the hollow stem 11 and cut off communication between the pipe 4 and the pipe 23.

The advantages of my invention result from the provision of a valve operating mechanism which is arranged to open the valve at the beginning of the recoil movement of the gun. and which is also arranged to be held in its open position until after the gun returns to battery. and which may be closed as soon as the gun returns to battery, or may be closed immediately after the breech block is slightly rotated to unlock it from the breech of the gun. Further in the provision of means for closing the connection in the pipe leading from the source of pressure supply to the pressure chamber when the breech block is translated, irrespective of the position of the valve. Still another advantage results from the provision of valve operating mechanism whichis normally in contact with the o crating device, and which is arranged to shift the valve at the beginning of the recoil movement of the gun, thereby preventing all hammering or shocks to the mechanism.

I claim:

1. A breech loading gun having a breech block with an opening therethrough, a mushroom head having a Spindle extend ing through the opening and arranged to move therein, fluid inlet ports arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of the mushroom head, means for su plying retaining the p fluid pressure to said ports, a valve or conment with trolling said fluid pressure, and means acranged tuated by the recoil of the gun for opening ning 0 said valve, said means being arranged to valve, sai be actuated at the beginning of the recoil arranged to of the gun to admit fluid pressure to said tions before ports; substantiall as described.

opening, fluid pressure ports arranged to described.

mushroom head having a spindle extending supply p through the opening and arranged to move actuated therein, fluid pressure ports arranged to be ing the valve to open i opened and closed by the movement of the block is removed, and mushroom head, means for supplying fluid off the fluid pressure w pressure to said ports, a valve for controlis removed; substan ling said fluid pressure, a bell crank pivoted 7. A breech loading gun to the breech of the gun, actuating eonnecblock, a carrier tions between the valve and the bell crank, a oted connection stationary pin normally in engagement flushing a with one arm of the bell crank at the begineluding a ning of the recoil movement of the gun to pipe, open the valve to admit fluid pressure to the valve,

ports; substantially as described.

valve for controlling said flushing means, a breech of the gun; valve stem connected to said valve, a bell scribed. crank lever pivoted on the breech of the In testimon gun, a crank connected to said valve stem my hand.

actuating connections between the crank and the bell crank, a. stationary pin normally in Witnesses:

GEO. B. BLEMING, Jesse B. HELLER.

engagement with one arm of the bell crank when the gun is ready to be fired, means for to shift the bell crank f the recoil of the gun t d actuating ling said flu valve stem connec be opened and closed by the movement of crank lever pivote the valve, means for supplying fluid presgun, sure to said ports, a second valve for constem and the bell crank, a sta trolling said fluid pressure. means actuated engage o be fired and arr 6. A breech loading gu 3. A breech loading gun having a breech block, means for fl block with an opening therethrough, a bore after firing in by the recoil o for the bre nd cooling the bore fluid pressure pipe, means for op and a pivote in line with the 4. A breech loading gun having means for carrier arranged flushing and cooling the bore after firing, a when the breech in and bell crank in engageh other said pin being arat the begin- 0 open said 5 also being (1 to their initial posithe breech block is removed; substantially as described.

2. A breech-10a ing gun having a breech 5. Abreech-loading gu block with an o ening therethrough, a valve flushing and coo having a spin le extending through the "alve for control having means for bore after firing, a shing means, a ted to said valve, a

d to the breech of the actuating connections between the valve tionary pin in ment with one arm of the bell crank by the recoil of the gun for opening said when the gun is t second valve, said means being arranged to shift the bell crank at the beginning be actuated at the beginning of the recoil recoil movement of movement of the gun to open the valve, and connections to open means for latching the valve in its open potions being als sition, said means being arranged to be retuat-ing conne leased when the breech block is rotated to mal position permit said valve to close; substantially as moved; substantially bell anged to of the the gun to shift said the valve, said connecd to permit the acto their norbefore the breech block is reas described.

n having a breech d cooling the eluding a fluid pressure ve in said pipe, means f the gun for shiftt before the breech other means to cut hen the breech block breech ech block, a pivfor said carrier means for after firing, in-

a valve in said d closing said tion in said pipe oted connection of the t oil the fluid ressure block is removed rom the substantially as dey whereof, I have hereunto set WILLIAM D. SMITH. 

